Collet type crimping tool

Abstract

A sterile tool for crimping a stent onto a balloon catheter is disclosed. The stent crimping tool includes two major components, a cylindrical body having external threads and a rotating collar with internal threads engaging the external threads. The collet end of the cylindrical body is split into segmented jaws that are biased to flare outward in an open state. A stent loaded onto a balloon catheter and situated inside the open segmented jaws can undergo a crimping operation when the collar is rotated and advances toward the flared open segmented jaws. When the collar engages the segmented jaws, the jaws are forced to converge and close onto the stent-catheter assembly thereby crimping the stent onto the balloon catheter.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A combination tool for crimping a stent onto a catheter and the stent, the combination comprising: 
       the tool having a cylindrical body having a gripping end and a collet end, wherein the cylindrical body at the collet end transitions into a plurality of segmented jaws that are flared outward to receive the stent therein;  
       external threads disposed on the cylindrical body in between the collet end and the gripping end;  
       a collar rotatably mounted on the cylindrical body having an internal threaded opening engaging the external threads on the body and a front inside diameter of the internal threaded opening engages the plurality of segmented jaws;  
       wherein advancing the collar along the threads translates the front inside diameter over the segmented jaws to converge the segmented jaws into a closed state; and  
       a groove formed along a length of each jaw engaging the stent, wherein when the plurality of segmented jaws are in the closed state, the grooves collectively form a cylindrical cavity leading to an opening at the collet end of the cylindrical body;  
       whereby closing the segmented jaws onto the stent mounted on the catheter, when the stent and catheter are situated within the cavity, crimps the stent onto the catheter.  
     
     
       2. The combination according to claim  1 , wherein the tool includes four segmented jaws and each segmented jaw includes a generally quarter-tubular wall cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
       3. The combination according to claim  1 , wherein the groove formed along each segmented jaw includes a lining. 
     
     
       4. The combination according to claim  1 , wherein the collar includes an annular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
       5. The combination according to claim  1 , wherein the collar includes a segment that has a smooth inside diameter. 
     
     
       6. The combination according to claim  1 , wherein the cylindrical body includes a metallic material. 
     
     
       7. The combination according to claim  1 , wherein the collet end is rounded. 
     
     
       8. The combination according to claim  1 , wherein the segmented jaws include a coating of material on at least a portion thereof. 
     
     
       9. The combination according to claim  1 , wherein the plurality of segmented jaws of the cylindrical body include a polymer. 
     
     
       10. A combination tool for crimping a stent onto a catheter and the stent, the combination comprising: 
       the tool having a cylindrical body having a gripping end and a collet end, wherein the collet end includes a plurality of segmented jaws having a flared open state and a converged closed state;  
       an opening in the collet end leading to a cavity receiving the stent therein formed collectively by the plurality of segmented jaws in the converged closed state;  
       external threads disposed on the cylindrical body;  
       a collar having an internal opening with internal threads, wherein the collar is rotatably disposed on the body with the internal threads engaging the external threads on the body;  
       wherein the segmented jaws are biased to flare outward toward the open state and the collar overcomes the bias when it is advanced along the external threads to partially engage the segmented jaws and to converge the segmented jaws together into the closed state to engage the stent held therein; and  
       whereby converging the segmented jaws on the stent positioned on the catheter located within the cavity crimps the stent onto the catheter.  
     
     
       11. The combination according to claim  10 , wherein the cavity has a cylindrical shape, and the cavity extends along an axial length of the cylindrical body. 
     
     
       12. The combination according to claim  10 , wherein at least one of the segmented jaws includes a coating on at least a portion thereof. 
     
     
       13. The combination according to claim  10 , wherein the collet end includes a tubular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
       14. The combination according to claim  10 , wherein each segmented jaw in the flared open state defines at least a four degree angle from a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body. 
     
     
       15. The combination according to claim  10 , wherein the collar includes a cylindrical shape having an overall diameter with a step-down profile defining a leading edge having a diameter smaller than the overall diameter of the collar, and wherein the leading edge is proximal to and engages the segmented jaws to converge the segmented jaws into the closed state as the collar is advanced along the external threads of the body. 
     
     
       16. The combination according to claim  10 , wherein the cavity is configured to receive a balloon portion of a catheter.